Shared parental leave boost for fathers

Shared parental leave (SPL) was introduced on 5 April 2015
with a view to giving parents more choice and flexibility in caring for their
children during their first 12 months.

Shared Parental Leave: Where are we now?

Parents can split 52 weeks’
leave, receiving some payment for 39 of those weeks. This is in addition to the
two weeks statutory paternity leave for fathers.

Almost a third (63%) of male
employee respondents with young children are interested in taking shared parental
leave (SPL) in the future, according to research by My Family Care and the
Women’s Business Council.

The “Shared Parental leave:
where are we now?” report, which surveyed 200 employers and 1,000 working
parents, also found that 40% of employee respondents feel that shared parental
leave is encouraged by their employer.

The major findings of the
research unveil an interesting range of reactions to the change:

Half (50%)
of male employee respondents believe that opting to take shared parental leave
would be perceived negatively in the workplace.

87% of
male employee respondents would like to take longer leave in order to be more
involved in parenting their child.

57% of
female employee respondents think that their partner’s career would be
negatively affected if they took SPL.

More than
half of female employee respondents would prefer to take the full period of
leave themselves, while 60% of male respondents believe that their partner
would prefer to take the full leave themselves.

77% of
employer respondents have enhanced maternity pay and almost two-thirds (65%) of
employer respondents have enhanced paternity pay.

44% of
female respondents want to take a shorter period of leave for career purposes.

Employers need to have processes in place to respond to the
greater choice and flexibility parents now have in caring for their children.

For help in understanding your employer obligations call an advisor today on: 01273 882200, Or email us at: info@businessheads.co.uk.

All details above were correct at the time of publishing - for more up to date information pleaseget in touch.

I love the summer for sitting back and reflecting on the
year. Thinking back to the dark days of
winter and forward to the joy of Christmas time. Now is the ideal time to review how your
business is going and as you revive yourself through holidays and sunshine
you’ll be well placed to make any changes come the autumn.